Blank aligning mechanism and method



Feb. 1, 1938. A, NOVICK 2,107,043

BLANK ALIGNING MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed Oct. 7, 1931 IN VEN TOR Abra/mm Nov/ck.

9L. A TTORNE Y5 Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES IZLANK ALIGNING MECHANISM AND METHOD Abraham Novick, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to F. L. Smithe Machine 00., Inc., New vYork, N. Y., a corporation or New York Application October 7, 1931, Serial No. 567,372

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in mechanism for aligning blanks. In machines for making envelopes from envelope blanks it is necessary in feeding the blanks to the folding mechanism to convey them in sequence, one after the other, in such a manner that each blank is completely free of its fellows. In some instances the blanks are previously gummed and dried while-in a band which is formed by the overlapping of one blank by the other, whereupon it becomes necessary to separate or individualize the blanks and then to properly align them with respect to the operating mechanism in order that they may be int correct register with the mechanism accomplishing the subsequent folding operations. In previous devices it has been customary to separate the blanks from the band and then align the bla ks by interrupting the motion of the blanks t regular intervals while such blanks are on the conveyor, or otherwise to retard the movement of the blanks through the machine.

The present invention aims to ialign the blanks and place them in correct registry in the machine, without, however, retar mg the movement of the blanks, thus making ,for an increased output per machine. While it is usually necessary to align the blanks immediately following the individualizing operation, the mechanism described may, of course, be used a any point in the envelope making machine wgiere it is desired. to align or bring them-into registry with the machine.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, each blank after having been separated from the stack or band by an individualizing device is placed upon a conveyor or conveying element which preferably has a linear speed somewhat faster than such dvice, the blanks being constrained to have the vement of the conveyor by means of an element supplying the necessary pressure upon the blank against such conveyor. While the blank is thus travelling on the conveyor, it is acted upon by a ther conveying element which travels at a gre er speed than the blank to push it from behind and thereby to accomplish the correct registry of the blank with reference to the machine.

The invention will be best understood from the following description taken with the annexed drawing, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation of a preferred embodiment, while Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, the blanks Ill are shown within a hopper II, the blanks being formed in a band such that each blank overlaps the next, and in the partic lar instance shown the blanks have just eme ed from a drying way. The blanks are fed from K the pins 28.

" I have described whatI believeto be the best this band one by one by means of rotating wheel l3 which has mounted on it grippers l5, IS, the action of this element being such that as it rotates, the grippers l5, I6 contact with the topmost sheet of the blanks and feed it on individually. Co-acting with the grippers l5, I6 is 'a pivoted, resiliently mounted counter-element ll of bellcrank shape, said element being spring pressed against the portion of the sheet opposite the wheel |3 as shown. The blank, which has thus been individualized, falls upon the conveyor 20 and is held on it by means of the roller 2| which preferably is journaled in a pair of brackets 23 which are pressed downwardly in a direction against the blank by means of a spring...

25. The tension of spring 25, however, is such that the roller bears only lightly on the blank so that the blank is free to assume any position required by the aligning element, to be described. The pressure of the roller 2| against the blanks is sustained by a table 20a.

Said aligning element comprises preferably a pair of chains 21 on either side of the conveyor 20 having thereon pins 28, said chains being driven by sprocket wheels 3|, 3|, 3|, 3|. It will be noted that .the brackets 23 are pivotally held in a clamp member 24 which is adjustably held upon a longitudinal member 24a.

In the operation of the mechanism, the blank having been fed out upon the conveyor 20 passes between that conveybnand roller 2| which causes it to have the motion of that conveyor. It is then acted upon by the pins 28 of the chains 21, 21, which move at a somewhat faster speed than the conveyor 20, and thus enable the pins to overtake the blank, and, aided by the roller 2|, effectively register the blank on the conveyor, this action being shown in Figure 2. The blank is now ready for the folding mechanism, the scoring elements 35, 35 of which are seen in Figure 1. Roller, 2| bears on the blank just lightly enough to cause it to have the motion of the conveyor without preventing the movement of adjustment of the blank caused embodiment of my invention. Fido not wish,

however, to be confined to the embodiment the action of conveyor, and secondary conveyor mechanism adapted to move in juxtaposition to, and at a faster speed than, the conveyor first mentioned and having thereon blank engaging means adapted to m the blank at opposite sides of said medial region and to push the blank from behind and, aided by the contact element, to eifect an alignment of the blanks, 1

2.- In an envelope making machine, mechanism for aligning blanks comprising a conveyor, means for feeding said blanks upon the conveyor in separated condition, a contact element pressing the blanks against the conveyor so as to cause them to assume the movement of the conveyor but also allowing for movement of adjustment of the blanks with reference to the conveyor, and a second conveyor adapted to move at a faster speed than the conveyor flrst mentioned coma collated condition, a relatively slow-moving moving conveyor, and'having thereon means forengaging the blank at opposite sides of said medial region and for pushing the blank from behind, to act, in cooperation with said contact element, to align the blank.

4. The method of aligning blanks having wedge shaped flaps which consists in feeding the blanks 'upon a' travelling conveyor in separated condition, with said flaps trailing, moving said conveyor at a speed at least equal to the rate of feed of the blanks to said conveyor and then aligning the'blanks while on said conveyor by engaging them at a reentrant corner at each side thereof, and pushing them from behind by aligning elements moving at a higher speed than said conveyor engaging the corners formed by the said flaps and the bodies of the blanks.

5. The method of aligning blanks having wedge shaped flaps which consists in feeding the blanks upon a conveyor in separated condition, with said flaps trailing, moving said conveyor at a speed at least equal to the rate of feed of the blanks tosaid conveyor and then aligning the blanks while on said conveyor by pushing them from behind by aligning elements moving at a slightly faster speed than said conveyor and engaging the corners formed between said flaps and the bodies of the blanks, while loosely constraining the blanks, by yielding pressure against a medial region thereof, to move with said conveyor.

6. In an envelope making machine of the class comprising a mechanism for operating on individual blanks having wedge shaped flaps, means for conveying a series of blanks in overlapped formation with said flaps and an individualizing mechanism for removing blanks from said overlapped formation so that said blanks may be passed individually into and through said operating mechanism, the combination therewith of means for conveying said blanks from said individualizing mechanism to said operating mechanism, said means including a conveying device engaging said blanks from behind in the corners formed between said wedge shaped flaps and the bodies of the blanks to effect alignment thereof and deliver them so aligned into the operating mechanism.

7. In an envelope making machine, characterized by mechanism for operating on individual blanks having flaps forming re-entrant corners with the bodies of the blanks, a conveyor for conveying a series of blanks in overlapped formation with said flaps trailing, an individualizing mechanism for removing single blanks from said overlapped formation, said mechanism comprising a rotating wheel having mounted thereon elements for gripping the uppermost of the sheets arriving at the said wheel and pulling said sheet at increased speed out of said overlapped formation, a counter-element mounted adjacent said wheel and cooperating therewith for restraining blanks under the said uppermost sheet from following said sheet in its movement in response to said gripping elements, and aligning mechanism for engaging said blanks at each side at said reentrant corners, thus aligning them while "conveying the individualized blanks into said operating mechanism.

8. In an envelope making machine, mechanism for aligning blanks comprising a relatively slowmoving conveyor, means for feeding said blanks upon the conveyor in separated condition, a contact element pressing the blanks at a medial region thereof yieldingly' against the conveyor so as to cause them to assume the movement of the conveyor but also allowing for movement of adjustment of the blanks with reference to the conveyor, and relatively faster-moving secondary conveyor mechanisms, one on either side of, and in juxtaposition to, said first-mentioned conveyor, having thereon blank-engaging means adapted to push the blank from behind and effecting an alignment of the blanks, aided by the contact element.

9. In an envelope making machine, mechanism for individualizing and aligning envelope blanks comprising an individualizing device proper by means of which the blanks are separated from a collated condition, a relatively slow-moving conveyor upon which said blanks are fed by the individualizing device, a contact element pressing the blanks at a medial region thereof yieldingly against the conveyor so as to cause them to assume the movement of the conveyor but also allowing for movement of adjustment of the blanks with reference to the conveyor, and secondary conveyor mechanisms adapted to operate at a faster speed in juxtaposition to. said slowermoving conveyor, one at either side thereof, and having thereon blank-engaging means adapted to push the blank from behind, and which effect an alignment of the blanks, aided by the contact element.

ABRAHAM NOVICE. 

